N.M. Stat. § 66-3-7.1
Registration if vehicle emission inspection test required;
requiring a certificate; registration in class A counties.
A. No vehicle required by county or municipal ordinance to pass a vehicle emission
inspection test shall be registered with the division until such time as a valid vehicle
emission inspection certificate is presented, unless the ordinance of the municipality or
county specifically excludes enforcement by the division. The provisions of this section
shall apply to a class A county or municipality within a class A county that has a vehicle
emission inspection program, and the provisions of this section may apply to a
municipality in an adjoining or contiguous county to a class A county that adopts a
vehicle emission inspection program. Any municipality may adopt a voluntary or
mandatory vehicle emission inspection program by ordinance. The ordinance may
exempt or exclude certain categories or classifications of vehicles and may exempt or
exclude a vehicle because of age or type of vehicle.
B. It shall be a misdemeanor for any person to register a vehicle in a county or
municipality which does not conduct a vehicle emission testing program if the registered
owner of that vehicle resides in a county or municipality conducting a vehicle emissions
inspection program and the person registering the vehicle does so for the purpose of
evading a vehicle emissions inspection program.